Carrie Sayers Thompson

Carrie Sayers Thompson, 80, of Detroit Lakes formerly of Minneapolis, MN died on Friday, January 20, 2012 at the Essentia Health –Oak Crossing Care Center in Detroit Lakes, MN.

Carrie Sayers was born on December 24, 1931, at home on the White Earth reservation, the daughter of Simon and Rebecca (Bonga) Sayers. She was orphaned at a young age and was raised by the nuns at the Red Lake Mission. She went on to attend Indian Boarding schools at Pipestone, MN, and Flandreau, SD, where she graduated from high school in 1950. She enlisted into the U.S. Army in 1950, serving for three years as a Clerk and a Disbursing Specialist until her honorable discharge as a Sergeant in August of 1952. While in the service she lived in Germany, California, and Kansas. Until recently, she lived the majority of her life in Minneapolis. She was employed as a clerk at the Northwestern National Life Insurance Company in Mpls from 1978 until her retirement in 1993. She loved bowling, watching and coaching softball, playing bingo, and doing crossword puzzles. For 31 years she bowled for the Friday Night Mixed League.

She is survived by her 6 children – Richard (Darlene) Cox of Mpls, MN; Darlene Cox (Tim) of Ogema, MN; Theresa Cox of Mpls, MN; Paul (Mary) Cox of White Earth, MN; Wayne “Josh” Thompson of Mpls, MN; DoreneThompson (Ivan) of Bariboo, WI; 3 grandchildren (she raised following the death of her daughter Lorene Thompson) – Anthony Thompson of Mahnomen, MN; Danielle Thompson of Mpls, MN; Arianna Thompson of Mpls, MN; 22 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents – Simon and Rebecca; her daughter – Lorene Thompson; grandmother – Mary BigWind-Bonga, her brother – Ephraim Sayers; her sister – Josephine Sayers; former husbands– Edward Thompson and Richard K. Cox , Sr.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 22, 2012, from 3 until 6 PM at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN with a prayer service will be held at 5:30 PM. A wake will begin Monday evening, January 23, 2012, until the time of the services at the Mpls. American Indian Center. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday- January 24, 2012, at 11:00 AM at the Minneapolis American Indian Center. Rev. Fr. Mike Tegeder will be the officiant.

Active Casketbearers will be Jamison Cox, Robin Cox, Derrick Fasig, Michael Fasig, Louis Jones, Wayne Potter, Michael Thomas, Anthony Thompson.

Honorary Casketbearers will be Geneva Lawrence, Debbi Monroe, Delores Beaulieu, Dorothy Hill-Sayers, Jeanette & Mike Loud, and thrFriday Nite Mixed League, past and present, and the UMAIC Girls Softball Team. And All her beloved granddaughters and great granddaughters.

Interment will be held at 1:00 PM Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Mpls, MN at the Assembly Area #2 . Arrangements are being handled by the Cease Family Funeral Home of Park Rapids, MN.

Friends may leave on-line condolences at http://www.ceasefuneralhome.com